Compare towns
Putnam vs Brookfield vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Putnam | Brookfield | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 540Lowest |
1,486Highest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
47±5.9Lowest 21% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$98,500±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Brookfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $975±$306Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Benson and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,560Highest 46% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.